The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-06
STILL AFTER THE RASCALS
Judge irwin Orders Another Investiga-
ton of the Tally-Sheet Frauds.
The Inquiry Will Be Conducted, However,
by Grand Jury Composed OF Five
Democrats and One Greenbacker.

The new grand jury that is to look after the
violations of the criminal laws for the next SIX
months began work yesterday afternoon 1t IS
composed of the following gentlemen: Chambers
L. Starkie. Pike township; Henry Bristow, James
Monroe. Perry, Milton Spencer. Center john
Roberts, Lawrence, and Jesse Reynolds. Decatur.
Five of the six are Democrats and one Green
bal xer When they assembled in the Criminal
Court room, ready to be sworn in, it was antic-
pated that Judge Irwin would have something
to say to them about the taly-sheet forgeries,
and quite large crowd. composed principally of
attorneys, had gathered to hear the instructions.
They not disappointed. When the jurors
had all taken their seats the Judge produced
roll OF manuscript and read from it. The first
part of the instructions were of the usual kind.
He briefly called attention to violations of the
law against gaming and keeping gaming-houses;
also. to violations of the liquor laws. and espe-
cially to selling on Sunday.
Continuing, he said, There is another matter.
gentlemen, to which / desire to call your atten-
ton and give you in special charge, and that is
what is commonly known as the tally-sheet
frauds wherein the tally sheets and pol-books
of certain election precincts in this county at
the last election were changed, forged and
altered. This is a grave and serious crime, gen.
tlernen, and one that ought not to go by unno-
ticed, and the perpetrators unpublished. That
this crime was committed is now no Ion ger an
open question, and it only remains for you to as
certain the guilty parties. In view of the fact
that the late federal grand jury found sufficient
evidence upon which to ludlct certain persons for
violations of the federal statutes, growing out
of this same matter, it would seem that you
could hardly experience any great difficulty In
procuring the evidence upon which to indct 1t
is not necessary that the proof should be such as
Is required to convict upon a trial in court,
where the rule as to reasonable doubt prevails,
but such proof establishes strong and
reasonable probability of guilt and induces IN
your minds the belief that there is good grounds
for bringing the suspected person or persons
to a trial, is sufficient. The prosecuting at
torney, his assistant will point out to you
the sections Of the statute covering the case.
and will give you such other legal information
concerning the same as you may request The
public welfare demands and the court will ex-
pect, thorough and fearless investigation OF
this matter at your hands, to the end that the
guilty parties may be brought to the bar OF this
court for trial Gentlemen, any temporizing
with law-breakers on the part of those charged
with the administration of public justice but
tends to bring the law into disrepute and sean
daizes justice. To insure a respectful obedience
to the laws there must be an impartial but fear
less enforcement of them. The oath of office
which you have just taken should control you IN
this in all other matters-that you will pre-
sent none through malice or hatred and leave
none unpresented through fear or favor, and
that you will present the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth"
When ne naQ completed the feadlng OF the IN
structions he appointed James Monroe foreman.
and the jury after taking the required oath. re-
tired for work.
Heretofore it has been the custom to equally
divide the jury between the two political parties,
but this time not single Republican was Sc
lected.
Judge Irwin, in speaking of his instructions.
said that he did not how jury of honest
men, after taking oath. could ignore them.
The indictments by the federal jury, he said,
did not interfere with the work of the county
jury The indictments returned charged simply
a conspiracy and left untouched the act itself.
It was the act that should be investigated, and
he did not propose to drop the matter until in
dictments were returned.